After years as a leading independent acquirer, the Leavitt Group recently sold a 21% stake in its business, but it has remained near the top of the list of active buyers.

Speaking with Leader’s Edge Editor in Chief Sandy Laycox, agency Executive Chairman and CEO Eric Leavitt discusses the reasoning behind the sale, why succession planning is central to its M&A approach, the two-year journey to gaining consensus on integrated tech, and what’s on the horizon for Leavitt Group and brokerage M&A overall. This interview has been edited for clarity.